Ja’Kobi Jackson, a Florida transfer running back, became the first Ohio State player to lose his black stripe in 2026 preseason camp after just five practices. For a program that treats the black stripe as a genuine rite of passage — the on-field marker every newcomer wears until coaches decide they’ve fully grasped the offense, defense or special teams system — being first to earn it off is a real statement, especially for a player who only arrived in Columbus this past January.
Here’s a full breakdown of who Ja’Kobi Jackson is, the long road that led him to Ohio State, and why losing his black stripe so quickly matters heading into the 2026 season.
Who Is Ja’Kobi Jackson?
Jackson is a 5-foot-11, 214-to-217-pound running back who arrived at Ohio State as a seventh-year senior, making him one of the most experienced players on the entire roster. His path to Columbus wound through three different stops. A Pensacola, Florida native out of Pensacola Catholic High School, Jackson went unranked coming out of high school and began his college career at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Over three seasons there from 2020 through 2022, he rushed for 1,390 yards and 14 touchdowns on 276 carries, production that eventually helped him land at Florida as a three-star junior college transfer.
Jackson spent three seasons with the Gators, redshirting in 2023 before emerging as Florida’s primary backup running back in 2024, when he rushed for 509 yards and seven touchdowns on 95 carries. His 2025 season was cut short by a shoulder injury that limited him to just four games and 98 yards on 27 carries, ultimately ending his year early. That injury became the turning point in his college career — rather than closing the book, it opened the door to one more season.
How Ja’Kobi Jackson Landed at Ohio State
Jackson didn’t know for certain whether he’d be eligible for a seventh season of college football until just over a week before the transfer portal opened in January. After missing Florida’s final eight games with the shoulder injury, he was granted a medical hardship waiver that restored his final year of eligibility — news he received just two days before Christmas, calling it a genuine Christmas present.
With Florida’s returning back Jadan Baugh set to remain the Gators’ lead option, Jackson quickly turned his attention to the transfer portal. He visited Ohio State on Jan. 4, along with additional visits to Auburn and Tennessee, but running backs coach Carlos Locklyn ultimately won out, landing Jackson’s commitment on Jan. 15 as Ohio State’s 14th transfer addition of the 2026 cycle. He joined fellow seventh-year transfer Hunter Welcing, a tight end from Northwestern, as one of two veteran additions brought in to add experience to position groups that had lost significant depth.
Why Ohio State Needed Jackson’s Experience
Jackson’s arrival addressed a clear need in Ohio State’s backfield. With CJ Donaldson exhausting his eligibility and both James Peoples and Sam Dixon entering the transfer portal, Ohio State entered the offseason with only two returning running backs who had actually seen game action in 2025: sophomores Bo Jackson and Isaiah West. Of the six scholarship running backs currently in Locklyn’s room, five are either true freshmen or true sophomores — making Jackson, at seven years removed from high school, the most experienced player in the entire unit and tied with Welcing as the oldest player on Ohio State’s roster.
That experience gap is exactly what Jackson believes he brings to the table. Averaging 5.4 yards per carry during his last fully healthy season at Florida, Jackson has talked openly about wanting to add explosiveness to Ohio State’s running game, while also pointing to his versatility as a receiver and pass protector as ways he can immediately contribute regardless of down or situation. He’s also noted the similarities between his running style and those of Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, suggesting his skill set should complement rather than compete against Ohio State’s younger backs.
Becoming Ohio State’s First Transfer to Lose the Black Stripe
That blend of experience and quick chemistry with the offense showed up immediately once fall camp began. While a handful of newcomers had already lost their black stripes during spring practice, Jackson became the very first transfer portal addition to earn his off during fall camp — accomplishing the feat in just five practices. It’s a notable distinction given how many new faces Ohio State brought in through the portal across the entire roster this offseason.
The timing lines up well for Jackson’s role on the depth chart, too. With freshman Legend Bey working through some early camp struggles, Jackson has reportedly secured the No. 3 spot in Ohio State’s running back rotation behind Bo Jackson and Isaiah West — a significant outcome for a player who arrived in Columbus just seven months earlier as a relative unknown outside of Gainesville.
What It Means for Ohio State’s 2026 Running Back Room
Jackson’s fast start is an encouraging early sign for a Buckeyes offense that’s made no secret of wanting more explosiveness and big-play production out of its backfield in 2026. Pairing a proven, physical veteran presence with the continued development of Bo Jackson and Isaiah West gives Ohio State a running back room with both experience and upside — a combination that wasn’t guaranteed given how much turnover the position group experienced this offseason.
For Jackson personally, the milestone caps a college football journey that’s spanned junior college, the SEC, and now the Big Ten, all in pursuit of one final, meaningful season. Losing his black stripe first isn’t just a symbolic achievement — it’s a real sign that Ohio State’s coaching staff already trusts him to be on the field when it matters.
Final Thoughts
Ja’Kobi Jackson’s path to Ohio State wasn’t a straight line, but his rapid integration into the program says plenty about both his own preparation and the trust Ryan Day’s staff has already placed in him. Becoming the first transfer to lose his black stripe in fall camp, after climbing from junior college to the SEC to a seventh and final college season in Columbus, is a fitting milestone for a player whose entire career has been built on earning every opportunity the hard way.
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